Deity Installation and Initiation
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Melbourne, April 6, 1972

Prabhupada: …or one is situated in his external existence, if he happens to remember Krsna or Visnu, pundarikaksam, sa bahyabhyantara-sucih, he immediately becomes purified internally and externally. So you are getting initiation in this auspicious day when Lord Krsna and Radharani, His eternal consort, is now being situated, er, established, installed, on this auspicious moment, and you will be initiated to chant the Hare Krsna mantra in the beginning. Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. As it is indicated in this verse, one who remembers the Supreme Personality of Godhead always, he remains always purified, sucih. Sucih. Suci means… Another meaning of suci is brahmana, purified. A brahmana… According to nature’s division, there are four classes of men: the brahmana, the ksatriyas, the vaisyas, and the sudra. Brahmana means the intellectual class of men who knows hygienic rules, keeps himself always purified and engaged in studying Vedic literatures for understanding this world, God, himself, the interrelation. They are called brahmana. And the ksatriya means those who live their life under the instruction of the brahmana but they are engaged in administration of the state, they are called ksatriyas. Then vaisyas, still less intelligent class. The brahmana is the first intelligent class of men, the ksatriyas, the next intelligent class of men, and the vaisyas, or the mercantile class of men interested in money by trade, commerce, agriculture, industry, they are called vaisyas. So next, the last class is called sudra. Sudra means workers. They haven’t got much intelligence, neither they can work as administrator or traders but they work and get some salary. They are called sudras. So suci means the first-class intellectual class of men. So anyone who is always chanting the holy name of God and keeps himself purified, he is suci. Suci means the first-class purified intelligent class of men. So they are called brahmanas in Sanskrit. So it is not that the brahmanas are to be found in India only. Any intelligent class of men, anyone who takes to Krsna consciousness, he is brahmana. In this initiation ceremony there will be some persons who will be initiated for chanting the holy name, and some of them will be initiated for the second time. They were initiated before for chanting the holy name; now they will be initiated with a sacred thread. Sacred thread means recognition of complete brahminical culture.

So a brahmana is, the qualification of brahmana is,

satya sama dama titiksa arjavam jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava-jam

So a brahmana should be truthful in any circumstances. He will never speak lie. Truthful, satya. Sama. Sama means keeping the mind always in equilibrium. And dama, dama means keeping the senses under control. Sama dama titiksa. Titiksa means toleration. There may be so many tribulations, but a brahmana is supposed to be very, very tolerant. Toleration. The first-class example of toleration in the Western country: Lord Jesus Christ. He was being crucified; still, he did not take any steps. If he wanted, he could take steps, but he was tolerating. So this is the sign of brahminical symptom. Titiksa arjava. Arjava means simplicity. A brahmana is not supposed to be crooked and duplicity. No. Simple. It is said even the enemy wants to know something from him, he will clearly say, “It is this.” That is called simplicity. Then jnanam. Jnanam means knowledge, full knowledge. And vijnanam means scientific knowledge, practical application in life. That is called vijnanam. Astikyam. Astikyam means to have full faith in Vedic literature. That is called astikyam. These are the signs of brahmana. So those who are going to be initiated with the sacred thread, they must always remember to follow all these rules and regulations. We should always remember that this Krsna consciousness movement is meant for purifying the human society. Unless the human society is purified, there will be so many problems and disturbances in the human society. At least a certain percentage of the human society must be brahmana; otherwise the society cannot make any progress in spiritual life. And if we cannot make progress in spiritual life, then our human life is frustrated. After 8,400,000 species of life, evolution, one gets this human form of life. And if he does not properly utilize it, then he is committing suicide.

So our, this Krsna consciousness movement is the greatest welfare activity for the human society because this movement is educating everyone how to fulfill the aim of life. The purport of the verse:

apavitrah pavitro va sarvavastham gato ’pi va yah smaret pundarikaksam sa bahyabhyantarah sucih

sri visnu sri visnu sri visnu

Hare Krsna. Now give them beads. (chants japa) These flowers, these flowers you can lay down. Flowers, flowers, yes. Flower, flower, here flower. Yes. This is not for Deity? This is not for the Deity? No, you can lay down, lay down on the floor, on the… Yes.

Devotee (1): They were for the wedding.

Prabhupada: Wedding? There is wedding also? All right. Keep it.

Devotee (2): I have some flowers for the… (Prabhupada chants japa)

Prabhupada: So you know the rules and regulations? What is that?

Devotee (3): Four rules.

Prabhupada: Eh? Yes.

Devotee (3): No meat-eating…

Prabhupada: Speak loudly.

Devotee (3): No meat-eating, no illicit sex, no gambling…

Prabhupada: No intoxication.

Devotee (3): …and no intoxication.

Prabhupada: Including tea, coffee, cigarettes, everything. No more. Is that all right? And how many rounds you will chant? At least sixteen rounds. You’ll begin from here, come here. Don’t cross. Again begin from here. In this way, sixteen rounds at least. So what is the name? Oh, list.

Syamasundara: Dhaumya dasa.

Prabhupada: What is his original name?

Syamasundara: Doug.

Prabhupada: Dhaumya. Your name is Dhaumya dasa, Dhaumya dasa, one of the commander in the battlefield of Kuruksetra, Dhaumya. (laughter) Don’t laugh. Hare Krsna. Now bow down here. (chants japa) Chant. You’ll get bead, bead bag. Keep it in that. Yes. (chants japa) You know what are the rules? What are the four rules?

Devotee (4): No intoxication, no meat-eating, no gambling, and no illicit sex life.

Prabhupada: So how many rounds you will chant?

Devotee (4): At least sixteen.

Prabhupada: Yes. What is the name?

Syamasundara: Jayadharma dasa.

Prabhupada: Your name is Jayadharma dasa. Yes. He is one of the acaryas in the Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya. Bow down and take. Hare Krsna. Go on chanting. Go on chanting like this. (japa) You know the rules? Yes.

Cheryl: No meat-eating, no intoxication, no gambling, and no illicit sex.

Prabhupada: And how many rounds you will chant?

Cheryl: Sixteen.

Prabhupada: Minimum, yes. What is your name?

Cheryl: Cheryl.

Syamasundara: Satyavati.

Prabhupada: Satyavati dasi. Satyavati dasi was one of the queens of Krsna. Bow down. (japa) What it is you have got? Do you know rules?

Girl Devotee (5): No meat-eating, no illicit sex, no gambling, no intoxicants.

Prabhupada: What is your name?

Girl Devotee (5): Leone (?).

Syamasundara: Mekhala dasi.

Prabhupada: Mekhala dasi, belt of the universe. Mekhala. (japa) Mix it nicely and distribute. (japa) You wait. Stop(?) I have sent this.(?) You have not signed? If it is difficult, there is no…(?) Yes. All right. What is your name? You know the rules?

Girl Devotee (6): No meat-eating, no illicit sex, intoxication, and no gambling.

Prabhupada: So your name is Devadarsana dasi, “who can see all the demigods.” Right hand. (japa) Give them garland. After initiation they’ll exchange it. Give them. Give them on the… Yes. On their neck. You can sit down here. Where is that red powder? Get some. You sit there. He sits here. After changing garlands they will change place and the bride will give the powder and cover her head. No, the bride, bridegroom, yes. Come on. Come on. What is the name?

Syamasundara: Sanaka dasa.

Prabhupada: Sanaka dasa. Know rules and regulations? What is that?

Sanaka: No meat-eating, no illicit sex, no gambling and no intoxication.

Prabhupada: That’s good. And how many rounds?

Sanaka: Minimum of sixteen.

Prabhupada: Yes, minimum. Now get them promised. You sit down here and ask him to… “I, such and such…”

Syamasundara: Henceforward from this day…

Prabhupada: Let him promise. You promise, “I…”

Syamasundara: You, Sanaka dasa…

Prabhupada: Say, “I, Sanaka dasa…”

Sanaka: I, Sanaka dasa…

Prabhupada: “…take charge of you…”

Syamasundara: “…take charge of you…” (girl laughs)

Prabhupada: Why you are laughing? It is laughing thing? I told you first. Don’t take anything very lenient. Very serious.

Syamasundara: “I, Sanaka dasa, (Sanaka dasa repeating) do hereby promise from this day henceforward to always protect and take for my wife Devadarsana dasi.”

Prabhupada: Yes. And you say that “I shall serve you…”

Syamasundara: Now, “I, Devadarsana dasi, (Devadarsana repeating) do from this day henceforward, I do promise to always serve and obey my husband, Sanaka dasa.”

Prabhupada: Now change the garland. Now give her the vermillion, red powder. Cover her head.

Syamasundara: Cover her head with the sari.

Prabhupada: Do like that. Now you come this side.

Syamasundara: Now you change places.

Prabhupada: So you have agreed that there is no question of divorce in your life? In any circumstances you cannot separate. Is that all right? You also agree? You cannot separate. There is no question of divorce. Even if you fight, you can remain in one temple, he can remain, but there is no question of divorce. So take in mind. That’s all. Now have this…

Syamasundara: Er, the Hanuman sannyasa…

Prabhupada: After this yajna. After this.

Syamasundara: They have a gift for you. Shall I give it now?

Prabhupada: Yes. All right. Bow down. Now begin the fire. Give help. Ignite the fire. Come on. First of all… First of all… Burn, fire… Very fine. Oh, this is not. Very fine one put in the beginning. Yes, like that. (japa) Have you got little straw?

Devotee (7): Straw?

Prabhupada: Yes, that will help. Oh, you do not know. You never done it.

Devotee (7): Yes.

Prabhupada: How is that, it is…? Do. Do. Do. Yes. Let him. Let him do one more. Now you can put it. Simply… That’s all right. Don’t… Yes. Go on. Yes, like that. There is no need of… Do that. Yes. Yes, like that. Go on. You know the mantras? Then you can do. Go on putting fuel in. Yes. Yes. Like that.

Devotee (7): Should I begin to chant…

Prabhupada: Yes. [Devotee (7) chants standard prayers for fire sacrifice with devotees and Srila Prabhupada repeating and Srila Prabhupada giving instructions on pouring the ghee]

Prabhupada: Now stand with banana, all. Take the banana and stand up. You also take.

namo brahmanya-devaya go-brahmana-hitaya ca jagad-dhitaya krsnaya govindaya namo namah

(repeats mantra twice more)

Svaha. Now put. Put those banana one after another. Put. (end)